Saturday, December 18, 2010

Dear Santa ...

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As we rolled into the holiday season, I was heartbroken one day when Mason came home from school and said, "Mom, someone in my class said there is no Santa Claus." As a mom, I felt horrible that he heard such a vicious rumor in his first grade classroom ... yet, as a mom, I felt horrible when I lied to him to keep on with the story of Santa Claus. 

Now why would he say such a thing? Doesn't Santa leave gifts for him on Christmas morning?

Mason told me his friend said it's really your parents that leave gifts, not Santa. And, the clever kid that Mason is, he told his friend that he gets presents from his parents and Santa! That's my boy.

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Now that Mason can write on his own, a new meaning in writing to Santa has landed upon our home. I'm pretty sure he has sent Santa 1,374 letters so far this year, each time listing out what he would like for Christmas. Most days, I find sealed envelopes from Mason in the mailbox, waiting for the mailman to take them to Santa.

Little things like that just make me smile.

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Imagine Mason's surprise when I told him I received an email from Santa just for him. The grin on his face as he watched Santa speak was unforgettable. And shame on me for talking as Santa spoke ... Mason shushed me about 37 times.



One of the things I have always loved most about this season is sitting around with nothing but the Christmas tree lighting the room. The twinkle, the warmness ... I'm not sure I can really put into words how it warms my soul.

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We received a box packed with gifts in the mail the other day from my dad and step-mom ... or Mickey Mouse Grandma and Grandpa, as the kids call them. The distinction being that they live near Disney World. Anyway, the kids have been drooling over these gifts since the second we opened the box ... but they have been told repeatedly that they are for Christmas and that they cannot open them until Christmas morning.

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The girls ... um, clearly they don't so much understand. After getting in trouble once already for opening two of the smaller gifts a few days ago, I found yesterday that they opened all of them ---> time out chicks.

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The holiday season is upon us ... enjoy it while you can! Time outs and all.

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13 comments:

  1. Love your blog. The new blog header. The pictures. The opened gifts. We've never put the gifts out until Christmas Eve because of this problem with Morgan. It makes me feel like the kids are missing out on part of the anticipation and excitement though of watching the gifts fill up under the tree and shaking their boxes, trying to guess what could be inside that box.
    Merry Christmas to your perfect family!
    xo

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  2. that is the cutest post ever! i love that the girls keep opening gifts. too cute and way to go Mason. keep on believing! there are kids in junior kindergarten that don't believe in santa. kids with older siblings should be forced to keep quiet!

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  3. Great new header. Oh I am so sorry that he had to deal with that already but boy Mason is right on top of it with quick thinking. I love the Santa message, so cute.

    Had to giggle at the girls opening presents. I have a 2.5 year old granddaughter that keeps bringing me a present and telling me that it must be opened. This is the first time she has ever realized what presents are and that they need to be opened. Too funny. Purposely I have kept all the packages from family (ours is all in NY state) that have been mailed to us in the box. Won't she be shocked come Christmas morning.

    With another little storm coming to the Tidewater area of Virginia we may have some more snow to celebrate the holiday season with. woohoo! Might get the sled out after all......

    Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

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  4. it is such a sad sad day when the secret is out! I am not looking forward to that day...but I think my 5 year old is almost there...he began not wanting to get into the elf on the shelf so I lied and lied until he played along! I know it is going to get me someday...great pix and love the look of your blog...smiles

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  5. Love your new blog look!! Gotta love double trouble, I'm all about that myself at my house these days. Wishing you and your family a Very Merry Christmas :)

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  6. Your last few posts have made me all warm and fuzzy! Love you!! :)

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  7. Hahaha. Love those naughty girls! I did the same thing when I was a kid. And my 5 yr old - she's already worn her Christmas Eve jammies - then I re-wrapped them.

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  8. ADORABLE!!!!! Miss our almost daily texts and phone calls :)....have a WONDERFUL holiday with those amazing kiddos! LOVE the new header!

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  9. Glad you're back, Bethany! Great post and pictures as always :) Wishing you and your family a very Merry Christmas...if the girls were that excited to open those gifts, I can only imagine what it will be like at your house on Christmas morning!!

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  10. Loved this and love the cute antics of those cute girls

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  11. I feel the same way about the Christmas tree lights...I love the way the lights make my house feel. I could just sit and stare at them for hours, lol!

    Merry Christmas to you and your family!

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  12. Bethany, I laughed so hard when I saw the girls on the stairs! They definitely know it was the wrong thing to do but like my Ruby, will push the boundaries of their adorable cheekiness to see how far they can get! Love it! Your gorgeous boy has got it right, bless him for standing up for Santa! Blessings to you and your family this Christmas!

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  13. My sister and I used to unwrap and rewrap them all...
    which is why I put nothing out...the tree looks very sad empty, but I know my rotten kids would totally take after me...
    My oldest is 6...so worried about him finding out....lots of questions this year, but we did the email from Santa too...so he's feeling better

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